Curious Case of Two Ramayanas

Everyone is familiar with how Valimiki wrote the great Indian epic Ramayana and till date it has served as a shining becon of moral, familial and dharma (righteousness) values.

The following is a curious case of how there came about another Ramayana, which eclpised the prose, meter and tale of Valmiki's epic.

So goes the story...

After Valimiki, had finished composing his Ramayana, he was very happy and started showing it off to the Devas, Kings, Asuras, Gandharvas, near about anyone, who would read or listen to his recitals. Everyone would praise his rendition to sky and beyond, making Valmiki more happy.

During this time, Valimiki showed his rendition to the sage Narada. Narada, read the epic and did appreciate it, but did not mention it being the most epic tale. Valmiki, got a bit uneasy and asked Narada, what was better than what he had written. Narada, told him that he believed that the Ramayana composed by Lord Hanuman being the best ever rendition of Lord Rama's tale and asked Valmiki to read it. 

Hearing this, Valmiki could not believe somebody, especially from the ape lineage, would be able to compose a tale of Lord Rama better than him. He then began seeking out Hanuman around the globe. 

Finally, at the foothills of Himalayas in a forest of banana plantations, he met Hanuman. He showed him, his composition - the adi grantha - Valmiki Ramayana. Lord Hanuman, was very pleased to read about Lord Rama's story, for there was none in parallel in devotion to the Lord Rama than Hanuman. He praised Valmiki's composition and asked Valmiki for any boon he may so desire from him.

Valmiki, asked Hanuman, to allow him to read Hanuman's Ramayana. Hanuman, very willing obliged and put forth before Valmiki a bundle of banana leaves, on which was the masterpiece of Hanuman composed.

Valmiki, began reading and was spellbound by the meter, prose and real devotion of Hanuman, in the words. He began weeping for he had never read or written anything close to what he held in his hands now. His mind began pondering that no one would remember his tale for Lord Hanuman's tale has no parallel and lamented his predicament to Lord Hanuman. 

Hanuman, consoled Valmiki and abruptly picked up his own epic, tore it up and gulped it down. Seeing this, Valmiki was dumbfounded and asked Hanuman why he had destroyed such a marvelous composition. 

Hanuman replied, "For you, Ramayana is a means of getting famous and reknown, but for me its my devotion to Lord Rama. I dont need fame from a book or seek any wealth from it. Henceforth, let Valmiki Ramayana be one of the most reknowned retelling of Lord Rama's life there is."

The humility and devotion of Lord Hanuman towards Lord Rama is well reknown even today

Moral: Be humble and do your duty for your own satisfaction like Lord Hanuman and dont run after material fame or wealth.

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